Todd lining up title defence

Windermere captain Mike Todd is refusing to feel the pressure as he prepares to represent the reigning champions in the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge.

The 43-year-old, who replaced the outgoing Ian Gordon as club captain at the start of the year, will be tasked with partnering PGA Professional Simon Edwards following a memorable joint win last year.

Edwards and Gordon shared the title with Ian Walley and Ian Neal at Antalya Golf Club in Turkey after the destination of the trophy was decided following just one day’s play as severe thunderstorms prematurely halted proceedings.

The Canopius-supported tournament, which carries a total prize fund of £25,000, will once again return to Antalya’s PGA Sultan Course this year on November 26-27.

But if they are to return to defend their club’s title, Edwards and Todd will first have to win the qualifying round at Huddersfield on July 29.

“There’s been a lot of ribbing going on at the club, people telling me that we have to go one better than last year,” Todd, an electrician by trade, said.

“Ian in particular has said we have to live up to last year and go out there and win it outright!

“It would be nice to go there and represent Windermere, but I’m realistic – I’ve not seen any of the other guys play and I’m sure there’ll be a lot of competition for the place in the final.

“Having said that Simon’s a very good player and I seem to have hit a bit of a purple patch, so we’ll see how we get on.

“I’ve been a member here for 27 years. It’s a unique club and I love being a part of it.

“It would be really nice to go out to Turkey and play on behalf of Windermere in such a big event.”

Five-handicapper Todd, who has lived in Windermere all his life, has been passionate about golf since he joined the club as a junior.

“At the time I was growing up golf was experiencing an incredible few years,” he explained.

“You had Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam – just to name a few - all playing incredible golf.

“The sport was booming and it just made sense for me to go down to Windermere and join up.

“I’ve been playing golf ever since for the best part of 30 years, and I still love it as much as I ever did.”

Other pairings competing in the Huddersfield qualifier include: Alexandra Keighley and Paul Green (a) (Huddersfield), Duncan Moore and Chris Lees (a) (Northcliffe), Craig Fricker and Paul Gell (a) (Styrrup Hall) and Kevin Crossland and Steve Webster (a) (Worksop).